005 - Psalm 27, Part I

As I’m sitting here, working on this, my dog is whining incessantly.

In the time it took me to type that sentence, I thought of three more things to add to today’s to-do list, bringing the total number of tasks for today up the usual way-too-many. I have laundry that needs done, dishes piling up, and yes, my dog is still whining.

I have books collecting dust on my nightstand because I haven’t had the time or energy to pick them up in days or weeks. While the neighbors’ yards are lush and green, ours is beginning to dry out and turn brown because we can’t seem to remember to drag out the hose and water in the evenings. And the stack of papers on my desk I not-so-affectionately refer to as my “Things to Deal With” stack seems to be growing, even as I frantically work my way through it.

And that’s just at home. As is the case with many right now, my workload is heavier than I’m used to, and there’s no end in sight.

Now, this may sound like a whole lot of complaining. And I’ll be honest, it is. But mostly I want you to understand what I’m talking about when I say that right now, in this season, I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed. It just seems as though there’s always something to deal with, take care of, or hard work that needs done. I don’t know if there’s more of that in this season, or if I’m just less able to deal with it than I have been under more normal life circumstances.

And I know that the compilation I’ve listed above of what’s overwhelming me in this season is nothing when it comes to what’s overwhelming some of you right now: learning to homeschool your children, wondering how you’ll be able to pay the bills or buy groceries this month, the devastation of unemployment.

Seasons like this one – where darkness and uncertainty and sadness and fear abound – are the perfect breeding grounds for becoming overwhelmed. It seems that, day by day, our strength and stamina slowly wear out, until even the simplest of tasks become daunting. And as days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months, it sometimes feels that all I’m holding on by is a small thread, and all it can do is get me through the most basic daily functions. Beyond that, I’m too overwhelmed, too weak and dejected to do anything else. Anyone feel that?

But I recently stumbled upon Psalm 27:14, and it’s just really stuck with me in this season. Repeating it to myself over and over when I feel like what I’m facing is just too much to endure has given me the resolve I need to get through. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to walk through this verse together, starting with the first instruction we receive in it:

Be Strong

Throughout history, warriors have been selected for their ability to demonstrate strength even in the most trying and demanding of circumstances. And it’s not just physical strength either. Warriors must demonstrate mental and emotional strength, as well, if they are going to survive.

God has called us to be warriors for His Kingdom. Which means that sometimes we just need to be strong. Sometimes that looks like getting up and being proactive about what needs to be done, instead of sitting and waiting for someone else to take care of it. Or sometimes it’s that we stop complaining and start contributing. Often, being strong means strapping on some armor (Ephesians 6) and getting to the work that God has called us to do – whether that’s working at a computer, in a factory, or in our homes.

Here’s the other thing: part of being strong means we put in the work to stay strong. Professional athletes don’t just get to a certain level, consider themselves “strong,” and stop working out entirely. They keep working out even after they reach their goals so that they don’t lose the strength they’ve built up.

Similarly, we must work every day to maintain our strength so that we don’t lose ground. God promises us that He gives us His strength in times when we need to be strong (Isaiah 40:21) – without His strength, we wouldn’t stand a chance. So in order to maintain our connection to the strength that God freely offers us, we must maintain our connection to Him. We must seek out what His strength looks like in times of trouble, fear, and overwhelm, so that we know how to respond when we face those things ourselves.

Sister, I don’t know what you’re facing you, what’s overwhelming you today. What I do know is what’s overwhelming me today, and it feels like more than I can carry. But there is more power within us than we even know, and it’s available for us to tap into, to draw from to get us through. You are strong because He is strong, and He offers strength to you, as much as you need, whenever you need it. So be strong today. Whatever is in front of you is nothing compared to Who is beside you.

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Published in the 005 - May 27 issue of TuesdayTribe

Written by Hannah Hladek

Photo by Heather Ford on Unsplash